Pressure-Tuned Point-Contact Spectroscopy of URu2Si2 from Hidden Order to Antiferromagnetic States: Similarity of the Fermi Surface Gapping

TL;DR

This study uses pressure-tuned point-contact spectroscopy on URu2Si2 to compare the electronic states in hidden order and antiferromagnetic phases, revealing similar Fermi surface gapping which sheds light on the hidden order mystery.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the Fermi surface gapping in URu2Si2 is similar in both hidden order and antiferromagnetic states, suggesting a common underlying electronic structure.

Findings

Similar spectral features in HO and LMAF states

Evidence of comparable Fermi surface gapping

Insights into the nature of the hidden order phase

Abstract

We report soft point-contact spectroscopy studies of URu2Si2 both in the hidder order (HO) and the large-moment antiferromagnetic (LMAF) states accessed by pressure. In the HO state at ambient pressure, the spectroscopy shows two asymmetric peaks around the Fermi energy that emerge below the hidden order temperature T_{HO}. In the LMAF state at higher pressures, the spectra are remarkably similar to those in the HO state, indicating a similar Fermi surface gapping in the HO and LMAF states and providing a new clue to unraveling the puzzling HO state.